Years
2019 2018
Stefan Velkov Guitar Recital
2018-04-19

19 April 2018

Odeion

19:30

Bulgarian-born Stefan Velkov was introduced to music since earliest childhood. His official training in music theory, piano and guitar started at the age of seven.

Stefan received his first music degree as a guitar and light music performer from the Bulgarian State Conservatoire (later renamed to Bulgarian Academy of Music). At this stage (the late seventies of the 20th century) the guitar in Bulgaria was still regarded mostly as a light-music instrument. That is why it was included as a study subject only within the Light Music Department of the Conservatoire. The interest and the knowledge of the classical guitar was still at its infancy, but its popularity was growing fast. This made it necessary for the Bulgarian Ministry of Culture to make a historic decision: for the first time in Bulgarian music history, a decision was made to send a young Bulgarian guitarist to Germany to receive a proper music degree in classical guitar and to return to Bulgaria and introduce classical guitar as a subject at the Bulgarian Academy of Music.

After competing with all the most talented guitarists of the country, Stefan won the competition which enabled him to receive a master's degree in classical guitar from the Berliner Hochschule fur Musik Hanns Eisler. He completed his studies in guitar, piano and composition with a special reward of the Hochshule as one of the five best students. During his studies he also won the competition for the best guitar composition.

During his studies abroad (1981 - 1988) Stefan met and had masterclasses with most of the best guitar professors and guitar maestros of our time: Maria-Livia Sao Marcos (Switzerland/ Brazil), Costas Cotsiolis (Greece), Dieter Kreidler (Germany) and Leo Brouwer (Cuba).

In 1986 he was appointed as the first classical guitar lecturer at the Bulgarian Academy of Music and chairperson of the guitar festivals and competitions. This was the time when his own active concert career began. Stefan's repertoire includes most of the great masterpieces ever written for this instrument, but he became more and more known for his own compositions for guitar which, according to critics, outshine the best known masterpieces created for classical guitar.

Stefan’s arrival in SA (1991), coincided with the search of the Free State Musicon for a qualified guitar lecturer in order to introduce the subject classical guitar as part of its music training programme. He was offered the position of senior guitar lecturer at the Musicon which he holds until present day. During this time he also taught at the University of the Free State (1992 - 1999).

Stefan has given concerts in Bulgaria, Poland, Germany, Czech Republic, England and South Africa.

PROGRAMME

  • Velkov: Summer Dream
    From the golden heritage of the classical guitar:
    • Villa-Lobos: Prelude
  • Two Magnificent Arpeggios
    • Giuliani
    • Brower
  • Two Romantic Pieces:
    • Velkov: Serenade
    • Velkov: Adagio (The Magic Of Love)
  • Velkov: Bulgarian Suite for Guitar
    • I Bulgarian folk dance
    • II Bulgarian folk-singing
    • III Bulgarian folk dance in 7/8
    • IV Bulgarian folk-song
    • V Bulgarian folk dance in 9/8
  • Velkov: Tango
  • Velkov: Two Modern Dances
  • Velkov: The Wild Horse

ADMISSION

  • R120 (adults)
  • *R80 (pensioners)
  • *R70 (UFS staff)
  • *R50 (students, learners and block bookings of 10+)

Tickets available at Computicket or online at http://online.computicket.com/web/

*Please note that tickets for pensioners, students, learners and UFS staff can only be purchased at a Computicket outlet (Shoprite Checkers) or at the doors since a valid card or ID has to be presented to qualify for the above mentioned discount.

ENQUIRIES
Ninette Pretorius (tel. 051 401 2504)


Back
Kayser Quintet

Kayser Quintet
2 June 2011
Odeion
19:30

Géza Kayser
(violin / viola)
Lisa Thom
(flute)
David Cohen
 (clarinet)
Liuben Gadev
(cello)
David Smith
(piano)
 

Géza Kayser studied as an undergraduate at the Conservatoire in Zürich with Thomas Füri and as a postgraduate at the Royal Academy of Music with György Pauk and members of the Amadeus String Quartet. Géza has performed as soloist with orchestra, given violin and piano recitals, participated in piano trios, string quartets as well as larger ensembles. In 2006 he was chosen to represent South Africa in the World Philharmonic Orchestra in a series of concerts in France. He is currently a member of the KZNPO, teaches privately and plays chamber music with both the violin and viola.

Lisa Thom completed her B.Mus. degree at UCT with Eva Tamassy and her B.Mus.Hons. (cum laude) with Bridget Rennie-Salonen. In 2004 she began her M.Mus. degree and was accepted to study with the world renowned pedagogue, Trevor Wye, in Kent (England). In 2009, Lisa had a year sabbatical from her job in the KZNPO to complete a Post Graduate Diploma at the Royal Northern College of Music studying under renowned teacher, Peter Lloyd. She returned to South Africa in 2010 and resumed her co-principal position in the KZNPO.

David Cohen completed a B.Mus. at the University of Cape Town, studying with Johan de Donker and Jim Reinders. As an experienced orchestral musician, he has freelanced extensively with the Cape Philharmonic Orchestra and is currently the co-principal clarinet in the KZN Philharmonic in Durban. Thanks to generous awards from the Skye Foundation and Oppenheimer Memorial Trust, David recently took a sabbatical to study at the Trinity College of Music in London, where his teachers were Joan Enric Lluna, Fiona Cross and Anthony Jennings.

Liuben Gadev studied at the Bulgarian Academy of Music and was a member of the Sofia Philharmonic Orchestra for ten years. In 1990 he came to South Africa and was co-principal cellist of the KZNPO until 1995. He currently plays and teaches cello on a freelance basis.

David Smith studied at UCT, completing his B.Mus. and Ph.D. qualifications. He lectured at the University of Natal from 1989 to 2009, initially in music theory and musicology, and from 2002 as the first Professor of Opera and Choral Studies. He has had extensive experience as a chamber pianist and has worked with both singers and instrumentalists.

Programme:
P. Hindemith: Sonata for solo viola, Op. 25, No. 1
B. Bartók: Contrasts for clarinet, violin and piano
P. Hindemith: Quartet for piano trio and clarinet (1938)
A. Schönberg: Kammersymphonie Op. 9 arranged by Webern for flute, clarinet, violin, cello and piano

Admission:
R120 (adults)
R80 (pensioners, students and learners)
Tickets available at Computicket (at all Shoprite / Checkers shops, Mimosa Mall / Waterfront information desks) and at the doors.

Enquiries:
Ninette Pretorius (tel. 051 - 401 2504)
 

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